July 23/12 9:14 am - Tour de l'Abitibi: Stage 7 report and results

Posted by Editoress on 07/23/12

The U.S. National Team Wins the Tour

The U.S. National Team may not have won the 7th and final stage of the competition, but the team still remained the overall winner of the 44th edition of the Tour de l'Abitibi. Eisenhart, the front runner from the American team, ranked highest, which earned him the brown jersey, while Alexandre Darville, his teammate, took the orange jersey for the 7th time, by winning the title of top points earner. The blue jersey remained with the American team as well, returning to Goffrey Curren, who initially wore it after the first stage.

The final stage began after 43 kms, with the first of ten circuits. A group of seven, comprised of members of the American, Columbian, and Mexican teams, took the lead with more than two minutes over the rest of the pack. After a very close final sprint, the three rider of the champion team surprised the crowd by finishing at the end of the leading group. The finish line was crossed first by Vincente Gerardo Medina Robles of Major Motion, followed by Lucas Wardein of Southeastern Regional and Justin Oien of USA selection A, all of them being on the podium for the first time.

The overall ranking of the 44th edition of the Tour de l'Abitibi was dominated by the Americans. For the first time in the Tour's history, the team conquered the top six positions in overall ranking, breaking the record of top four positions held by members of the same team, which was earned by the Canadian team in 2006.

A Successful Tour Across the BoardIt was with great pride that the organizing committee closed the 44th edition of the Tour de l'Abitibi. “I am extremely satisfied with the way the Tour played out this year. The organizing committee was proactive, there was a lot of collaboration, and everything went smoothly. I was under the impression that the members of the committee had many years of experience. However, most of them were at their first experience with the Tour!” commented the president, Suzanne Fortin, at the end of the last race. The 45th edition of the Tour de l'Abitibi, which will also take place in Rouyn-Noranda, is looking very promising.